2014: There is an active pair of falcons at Snow Creek Wall, but no official closure is in effect due to the location of the falcons. The site will be continually monitored with changes or removal of closures updated as necessary.

This information is a public crowdsourcing effort between the Access Fund,
and Mountain Project.You should confirm closures, restrictions, and/or related dates.

There are a pair of golden eagles at Bridge Creek Wall. PLEASE DO NOT CLIMB or travel within 1/2 mile of Bridge Creek Wall. As a reference, the climb Condorphamine Addiction is just outside of this 1/2 mile buffer, and is OK to climb still. There is active monitoring to determine when the seasonal closure will be lifted.

This information is a public crowdsourcing effort between the Access Fund,
and Mountain Project.You should confirm closures, restrictions, and/or related dates.

Description

Snow Creek Wall at approximately 800 feet in height is the premier crag in the Leavenworth area. Routes range from 5.7 to 5.12a and up to 8 pitches long. The rock is a high friction granite with good cracks and a large number of chickenheads on it. The classic rock climb Outer Space is located here, and is regarded as one of the best routes in the state.

Snow Creek Wall is a good place to climb in the spring and fall. It is a good idea to avoid this area in the heart of the summer due to its low elevation and eastern exposure. Expect crowds on the popular routes almost every weekend.

Getting There

Park at the Snow Creek Wall parking lot in Icicle Creek Canyon. Hike up the Snow Creek Trailhead for approximately 45 minutes until directly accross from the wall. Leave the trail and find a log to cross the creek on, then proceed uphill to the base of the wall.

Hyperspace is a combination of various pitches on Snow Creek Wall, generally following the left side of the massive "Shield" formation. The climb is in between the two moderate classics, Orbit and Outer Space. Several minor variations exist. This is probably the best multipitch climb in leavenworth, and one of the better multipitch trad routes in the state. The traditional start is RPM, a runout 5.10+ dirty slab. The more common start is Remorse, which I'll describe.P1 - 70m - To the left of a s...[more]Browse More Classics in WA

The descent off of Snow Creek Wall is probably not that complicated in the day, but if you find yourself doing it for the first time at night, as I did, you will be hating life. Here are some general tips:

1) From the top, do not descend the first gully. Cross the gully and begin descending the rib to its right. There is some downclimbing here, but you will eventually find a trail.

2) You will be heading generally down and right, towards the creek. After crossing a slab, head down.

3) You will now head down and way back left, picking your way across slabs. Downclimb a steep gully with a large tree in it. Pick up the trail leading left around a huge boulder.

4) When you come to another gully, do not go down-- go across and you will find yourself at the base of Orbit.

"As of April 22, 2009, most of Snow Creek Wall is subject to a formal closure to protect falcons that are nesting on Library Ledge, on Outer Space, the most famous climb in Leavenworth. The closure will remain in place through the nesting season, which is expected to end July 31, 2009."

The temporary closure in effect for the Snow Creek Wall (about 5 miles up the Icicle Road from Leavenworth) will be lifted on midnight, July 14 this year. The Main Wall and Shield area of the wall was closed to minimize human disturbance to peregrine falcons nesting in this area. Three falcon chicks fledged July 7th. Young will stay in the vicinity of their natal cliff and continue to be dependent on parent birds for food up to six weeks post-fledging. The Forest Service would like to thank the climbing community for supporting the closure and ensuring another successful year. Climbers are welcome back on the Main Wall starting July 15.

Just a heads up there is a wasp nest directly above the P1 bolt belay of Remorse and RPM and they do not like you there. I learned the hard way with about 20-30 wasp stings, and now have remorse. Be careful!!!